CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
TREE COMMISSION
CITY HALL, 100
LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
8, 2007
REGULAR MEETING
6:00 P.M.
Mr. Goodrich stated the Commission should look over the letter they all received regarding the acorns on her Oak tree. Mr. Drobina stated that he didn’t recommend Gregg to take the tree out because it’s big and the prettiest tree on the street and shouldn’t be removed because she doesn’t like the acorns. Mr. McKinley stated he didn’t want to remove it because it sets a dangerous precedent. Mr. Ellis stated there is a product you can put on a tree and it slows the tree down from seeding but he is sure it is really expensive. Mr. McKinley stated we could check the cost. Mr. Goodrich stated that if we did that for one we’d have to do it for everyone. Mr. Drobina stated he would contact the attorney and see if she is liable or if the city is because it is the city’s tree.
Ms. Carter made a motion that we keep this Red Oak tree at 830 Melrose Blvd and not to cut it down and have it replaced. Mr. Malone seconded the motion.
During discussion of the motion Mr. Malone stated we should add that we are going to investigate the city issues that relate to liability and some of the other points she raises to see if we can provide her with any more guidance on some of the things she mentions.
Mr. McKinley made a motion to accept the amended motion to keep the tree at 830 Melrose Blvd. and not to replace it or cut it down and to give it protected tree status and also to contact the law director and to follow-up with the homeowner regarding the liability issues. Ms. Carter seconded the amended motion. Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter and Mr. McKinley voted “yea”. Motion passed 4-0.
A. Street Tree Report
Mr. McKinley stated that he noticed that the company up at Sycamore Creek is using the tree gator. Mr. McKinley asked if that was something we’re doing now for the irrigation. Mr. Ellis stated we have tree gators but those aren’t ours at Sycamore Creek. Mr. Goodrich asked if we were running into a situation where people aren’t watering again and that’s why so many trees are dying. Mr. Ellis stated they are 2 to 3 years olds. Mr. Ellis stated it could be a factor in the first year they were planted. Ms. Carter asked if the frost got them first. Mr. Ellis stated the trees should already have been established before the frost.
Mr. Drobina stated that Mr. Ellis has also been cutting more trees on Diley Road. Mr. Malone asked whether the bagworms were scattered around the area. Mr. Ellis stated Sycamore Creek has a couple places that are pretty bad and there are a few other areas. Mr. Malone asked if there was a certain species of tree being attacked. Mr. Ellis stated that the Honey Locust was pretty bad this winter and right now it’s Crabapple’s and a couple others. Ms. Carter asked if you cut the parts of the tree off that has bagworms. Mr. Ellis stated that he just pulls the bugs off.
5. SCHEDULED MATTERS.
A. Tree Preservation Update
Mr. Malone stated there is nothing new to report at this time.
B. Tree Data Base
Ms. Carter stated she has been working on it and has sent a draft to Mr. Goodrich. Ms. Carter stated she is sending Mr. Goodrich a subdivision at a time. Mr. Goodrich stated the reason for this is so that we have a back up in case her computer crashes. Mr. Goodrich stated they would then transfer all the information to the city’s computer system. Ms. Carter stated that she has started working on it. Mr. McKinley asked her if she needed any help and Ms. Carter stated she did not.
C. Arboretum.
Mr. Ellis stated he has not yet done anything with replacing the nametags that were vandalized. Mr. Goodrich stated that at the hospital they do an 8X12 stone and put a plaque on top of that but he doesn’t see any advantage to that method. Ms. Carter stated she
doesn’t see anyway to stop it other than better security. Mr. Malone stated that Dawes uses metal stakes instead of wood. Mr. Ellis stated they would last a little longer. Mr. McKinley stated he would check with Columbus Metro Parks and see what they use and would report back next month.
D. Emerald Ash Borer
Mr. Goodrich asked which is more important – the Preparedness Plan or the Ordinance. Mr. McKinley stated he feels the Preparedness Plan would be more important because the Ordinance that Council would pass is about public safety with street trees only. Mr. Goodrich stated that the Preparedness Plan is more important because money wise it needs to be approved by council. Mr. Drobina stated the Preparedness Plan should be completed first so when the budget is being decided we will have an idea how much to increase the budget for the removal and for the replacement of the trees.
Mr. Goodrich asked what is the round number of Ash trees that we have in the city. Ms. Carter stated it’s around 1,200 trees. Mr. Goodrich stated that is what our critical need would be and the database would show us exactly where they are. Mr. McKinley stated that we should adopt a ten-year plan at 120 trees a year, which is easily within our budget. Mr. McKinley stated we don’t know when the Emerald Ash Borer is going to get here and instead of taking a huge hit up front why don’t we space it out over ten years and slowly remove the trees. Mr. Goodrich stated that when the database is complete we would come up with a plan on what to replace. Mr. McKinley stated he feels we could still come up with a plan today based on deciding whether we should replace the younger or older trees.
Ms. Carter stated the biggest majority of Ash trees are 213 of them located in Sycamore Creek Park. Mr. McKinley stated that he feels we should take care of right-of-ways first and parks last. Ms. Carter stated you could start with the lower numbers first and work your way up. Mr. Goodrich asked how much a tree costs. Mr. Drobina stated that the average cost of a tree is 130.00. Mr. Goodrich stated 130X130 is quite a chunk in the budget. Mr. McKinley stated instead of planting 200 trees plus the Ash trees; if we cut that in half there would not be as much of an increase in the budget. Mr. Drobina stated a lot of the trees we plant are trees for new subdivisions and we have to plant them. Mr. McKinley stated we could spread it out even longer if we have to. Mr. McKinley stated it depends on how much council is willing to bite off. Ms. Carter stated you could look at our list and start with the smallest and work our way up.
Mr. McKinley stated the other part of the Preparedness Plan should address private property. Mr. McKinley stated we should raise the awareness within the community so that if they have a question they know whom to contact so we can go out and inspect it and then at that time we can address the issue of whether we need to do anything.
Mr. Goodrich stated that city council would not do anything until we have a Preparedness Plan because that will determine how things are done so our first step is to draw up a plan. Mr. McKinley stated that we need to decide what to address, where the funds are coming from, how much and how long a time, things like that. Mr. Goodrich stated we have to remember that we only have one arborist so that has to be part of the plan also.
Mr. McKinley stated that he would like to draw up the plan tonight and send it to service. Mr. Goodrich asked when the budget would need to be turned in. Mr. Drobina stated he starts working on the budget in September but it is finalized in January. Mr. Goodrich stated he feels we will need a couple meetings to draw up the plan. Mr. McKinley stated that he would like to have a couple of work sessions before our next Tree Commission meeting in September. Mr. Goodrich stated the first meeting should have its focus on drawing up the particulars and the second meeting should be to finalize everything. Mr. Malone stated we should use the examples we have from a few other cities and just fill in our particulars.
Mr. Drobina stated he would check with the City Manager tomorrow and see if we need to post a public notice and we will use one of the rooms at City Hall for the meetings scheduling them for the next two Wednesdays at 6:00.
E. City Beautification Campaign
Mr. McKinley stated he sent out a couple of letters to a couple of non profit organizations like Clean up Ohio to find out what kind of programs they have available for small towns and he is waiting to hear back from them.
Mr. McKinley stated in September he will go to a school council meeting to discuss the possibility of a partnership for Arbor Day and gauge their receptiveness to it.
No comments.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Drobina stated we are working on a standards plan for streets, curbs, water lines, etc. and the question came up asking what is the recommended size of a curb lawn. Mr. Ellis stated Shadow Oaks has the best with 11 or 12 feet. Mr. Malone stated 7 or 8 feet would be good. Mr. Drobina stated he would let the committee know that 8 feet would be preferable.
Mr. Malone stated the Urban Forestry Conference is scheduled for October 11, 2007 and he would like to attend. Mr. Goodrich and Mr. McKinley stated they also were interested in attending. Mr. McKinley asked if the city would pay the cost. Mr. Drobina stated they would.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Their being nothing further, Mr. Malone moved to adjourn, Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion. Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone, Ms. Carter, and Mr. McKinley voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 4-0. The Tree Commission adjourned at 6:58 P.M. on August 8, 2007.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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Diana Fuller, Administrative Assistant
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Ed Drobina, Service Manager